Holidays in Cyprus: cities, attractions, resorts, money, taxi, shopping, food, tips, reviews. We will organize a trip to Cyprus independently: all about Cyprus for tourists with children

Cyprus is one of the most favorite places for recreation for many Russians and Europeans. A short flight, no visa, a culture close to us - that's what makes it so popular from year to year.

Contents

Features of a self-visit to Cyprus
How to make a visa to Cyprus?
How to buy tickets to Cyprus?
How to choose the right resort for a holiday in Cyprus?
How to book a hotel in Cyprus? What to consider when choosing a hotel in the resorts of Cyprus?
Cyprus for tourists with children
Attractions in Cyprus
- Holidays in Ayia Napa
- Holidays in Larnaca
- Holidays in Limassol
- Holidays in Paphos
- Holidays in Protaras
Transport, taxis in Cyprus
Money, shopping and food at Cyprus Resorts
- Food in Cyprus
- Shopping in Cyprus
- Money in Cyprus
Turkish part of Cyprus - recreation
- Video."I want to go on vacation", North Cyprus
Video. Holidays in Cyprus: tips for rest with your child
Video. Holidays in Cyprus: a review about the trip

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Features of an independent trip to Cyprus

It is very easy to organize an independent trip to Cyprus.
Firstly, , Cyprus is actually a visa-free country, and it is not difficult for even newcomers to get a visa.

Secondly , on the Internet you can find a lot of offers for flight and accommodation in Cyprus, here is one of them booking.com.

Most hotels have Russian-language versions of the site, so that for the organization of a trip to Cyprus it is not required either special skills or knowledge of foreign languages.

Start better with the search for suitable for the price and dates of flight options, choose the hotel to do in the second stage, and then issue a visa.

Embankment in Paphos, Cyprus

How to make a visa to Cyprus?

Visa to Cyprus is issued electronically within 24 hours. It is called "pro-visa", since it is a preliminary document giving you the right to enter the country.

Pro-visa must be presented when boarding an aircraft and passing passport and visa control, on the basis of it the border services of Cyprus will make a passport in the passport of arrival.

You do not need to pay for registration of the pro-visa, you do not need to submit any information, only a questionnaire in the form of an ordinary electronic file. The photos are also not necessary.

Pro-visa allows you to enter the territory of Cyprus once for no more than 90 days. You can send a visa application form not earlier than three months before the start of the trip. Pay attention to the validity of the passport - at least six months on the date when you leave Cyprus.

If you plan to visit not only Cyprus, but also other countries, you need to issue a national visa. You can enter Cyprus by Schengen multivisa, but only if you have already entered this country on the territory of any other Schengen country.

Pro-visa will not work if you are arriving in Cyprus not from Russia( from other countries).Pro-visa is valid only if you flew by plane through Larnaca or Paphos. For a child who is inscribed in the passport of the parent, it is impossible to issue a pro-visa.

To apply for a visa, click here. There you will find detailed instructions for completing the application form, form, as well as the address to which you must send the completed visa.

How to buy tickets to Cyprus?

The purchase of air tickets is not difficult, today a ticket to anywhere in the world can be ordered and paid online. The most reliable way is to buy tickets on the airline's website.

This will allow you not to overpay for the services of intermediaries, as well as in case of any questions( return, exchange, flight rules) apply for solving the problem directly to the airline( according to the rules of air transportation, all passenger manipulations must be made through the organization in which hebought a ticket).
Another plus: in the event of a flight reassignment or change in flight data, the airline will notify you directly, and not through an intermediary.

To find cheap flights for suitable dates, you can use the search engine for flights, the most popular: Skyscanner and Anydayanyway. According to the given parameters the system will offer you all possible variants of flights with the indication of the airline, ticket cost and flight data. Suitable tickets can be booked and paid on the same site, or you can go to the airline's website and make a purchase there( this option is more reliable).

Attention!

When buying an air ticket, pay attention to the services that are included in the price of tickets( the cheapest tickets often assume only the presence of hand luggage, you will have to pay extra for luggage)
If you fly with a transfer, pay attention to the time of docking between flights: if the interval betweenflights less than one and a half hours, you can physically not be in time to get your luggage and register for the next flight, especially at large airports where the distance between terminals can be significant
Also try to readThe rules and tariffs applicable to the ticket( usually in the ticket or on the company's website there is an appropriate link) - often the airline establishes strict requirements for the exchange and refund of the ticket, if you do not know the rules you can lose a significant amount paid for the

How to choose the right resort for a holiday in Cyprus?

The main resort area of Cyprus is located along the southern coast of the Greek part of the island.

In the south-eastern part of the Paralimni area are two popular resorts - Protaras and Ayia Napa .Both resorts are distinguished from the rest of Cyprus by wide beaches with fine sand, a gentle entrance to the sea, coves with shallow water.

Water in these places warms up earlier than in other resorts.

In terms of entertainment Protaras is traditionally considered a quiet city, focused on family holidays with children, and the Ayia Napa is a winding youth resort where it is difficult to find a quiet corner, but music and fun thunder without ceasing.

Larnaca is also located on the southeast of the Greek part of the island. Larnaka - this is a city, and the eponymous bay.
The entrance to the sea here is as flat as in Protaras, but the sand is different.
Here it is gray, volcanic, like dust. Pebbles and small stones are found in places. In the city beaches are more crowded with tourists, accordingly, here is more noisy and dirty than in small towns of the bay of Larnaka.

Another minus of the beaches in the city is a busy roadway near the beach, and large passenger airliners calling at Larnaca airport just above the heads of vacationers.
In terms of entertainment Larnaca is quite diverse: here you will find yourself an occupation for the soul and family companies, and lovers of nightlife.

Limassol is located in the southern part of the coast, in the center, approximately at the same distance from other resorts of the island.
In Limassol, the same volcanic gray sand, but entering the water is less gentle, therefore Limassol is chosen for families with children from 7 years old and over - for very young children, the local entrance to the water may be too steep.

Limassol , in contrast to small Protaras and Aya-Napa is a large city with a population of about 300 thousand people.
In addition to the standard resort-hotel zone, there are banks, business centers, a large port, several small industrial enterprises and even a military base.
Rest in Limassol is a holiday in the city where the appropriate rhythm of life and atmosphere. If you dream on rest to rest from civilization, then choose other resorts.

In Limassol in addition to traditional water activities and walks along the waterfront there is a large selection of cultural and historical objects( see below).
Also quite a lot of entertainment for children, there is a night life.
Limassol is ideal for tourists who are not used to spending too much time on the beach and would like to tour as many local attractions as possible.

Finally, in the south-west of the resort line is located Paphos - the smallest city in Cyprus and a real open-air museum.
The beaches on Paphos are exceptionally pebbly, and the pebbles can be so large that the entrance to the water from the shore will be simply impossible.

Another feature of Pafos - dangerous undercurrents( on the beaches are installed appropriate warning signs, here and there it is even forbidden to swim).

Paphos is considered a resort exclusively for adults.

There are many first-class hotels, secluded beaches, spa salons and romantic walks.
There are many historical monuments and ancient ruins in Paphos. In comparison with other resorts, Paphos is considered one of the most expensive places in Cyprus for recreation.
In the majority here stay newlyweds and adults who prefer a solitary, measured rest.

How to book a hotel in Cyprus? What to consider when choosing a hotel in the resorts of Cyprus?

The choice of hotels can be made on the site booking.com. Here almost all Cyprus hotels for your taste will be brought to your attention.

The most affordable hotels in Cyprus - category 2 hotels * .They are quite suitable for living, as the level of starry in the comfort and cleanliness of the premises is rarely reflected.

Additional services in these hotels you will not find( many do not even provide food), but they will provide you with a clean bed and a minimum set of services.

Hotels 3 * - the most common category in Cyprus. In the "treshki" is always provided food for a surcharge - from modest breakfasts to our favorite "all-inclusive" Swedish tables.

The hotel 3 * offers you in addition to the residence itself, additional services: animation, water entertainment on the beach, a shop on site, a children's playground, etc.
The range of additional services depends on what you need,on what category the hotel is oriented( adults or families with children) and where it is located( hotels in the city usually have a much more modest territory than those of suburban hotels).

Hotels 4 * in Cyprus offer a full range of services from water slides and evening entertainment to spa services and a free shuttle to the nearby city.

Most 4 * hotels in Cyprus are located in Protaras and have an excellent children's infrastructure. In comparison with the "treshkami" 4 * hotels offer a much more diverse menu and a greater choice of food options.

Also in the 4 * you can find suitable options for placing a large company - here you will definitely find non-standard rooms of a large size and apartments of different types, unlike the hotels 2 * and 3 * , where the choice is limited to standard rooms for 2-3 guests.

Hotels 5 * is all that you will find in the hotels 4 * , only better, more, more chic and more refined. Cypriots are able to provide "lux" class services at the highest level. In any hotel 5 * in Cyprus, the service will be impeccable.

But there is one feature: most 5 * hotels are located in Paphos .Therefore, in the "five" in Cyprus you will find everything except a good beach. As an option, go to the hotel 5 * not in season, when the sea is cold and the quality of the beach does not matter.

There are literally 2-3 hotels 5 * in Larnaka and Limassol , where the beaches are all right, but the places in these hotels diverge for six monthsbefore arrival, so if you are looking to stay in these hotels, you should take care of the reservation in advance.

Cyprus for tourists with children

When choosing a place for rest with children, it should be noted that the older the child, the less attention can be paid to the children's infrastructure in the hotel.

The parents of children from 0 to 7 years are usually the most picky to the conditions at the resort and at the hotel. For a child of 7-12 years, special conditions are needed much less, and children older than 12 and do not differ at all from adults in terms of sleep, food and comfort.

The best place to relax with young children can be called Protaras.

It is relatively close to Larnaca Airport, there are excellent gentle sandy beaches, a quiet atmosphere and a good hotel pool.
Older children here can be bored, as the maximum entertainment in the neighborhood - this is an animation on the hotel.

In Ayia Napa, you can also find a good place to relax with the baby, but you need to try.
Despite the fact that the resort is considered too noisy and youthful, most entertainment facilities are located in one place, far from the shore in the depths of the city.

There are several relatively quiet places, remote from the epicenter of discos. Another point that can confuse families with children is not too clean beaches( dirtier than in Protaras).But there is much more entertainment: there is a water park, a walking zone and a real pirate ship.

In Larnaca, rest with the children is better not in the city itself, but in hotels located in the bay - there the air is cleaner and the people are less.

In general, Larnaca is more suitable for unassuming tourists who want to save: the hotels here are rather modest, there are not many entertainments, but the price tags are lower than in any other resort in Cyprus.

If you want, you can get to the entertainment of the neighboring Ayia Napa.

In Limassol, you can go with children only to hotels 4-5 * with a large area in the distance from the city center.

Limassol is too big, noisy and dusty city to call it useful for recreation with children.

But there is so much entertainment and options for older children, that impressions will suffice for anyone, even the most restless child.
In Limassol, you can stay with children from 7 years of age and older, when excursions and entertainment become more important than a sleep-hour and a gentle entrance to the sea.

Paphos is very good in terms of entertainment, but very specific in terms of the coastline.
It is suitable only for families with older children( from 10-12 years old) who are confident enough to stay on the water or prefer swimming pools to the sea.

In Paphos, the most troubled and complex sea in Cyprus. But here a lot of entertainment in the city, the cleanest ecology and curative microclimate, especially useful for asthmatics and allergies.

Attractions in Cyprus

Holidays in Ayia Napa

Aya Napa is a very active youth resort where music and fun do not cease day and night. The city is a real kingdom of crazy rest, foam discos, active sports and informal people of all stripes.

Even if you come to Ayia Napa alone, to find a suitable company for a boring rest there will be no difficulty.

You can rent an ATV for traveling in Ayia Napa - this is the most popular type of transport in the city among tourists. However, it should be taken into account that the left-hand traffic is on the cyprus.

The most common language in Ayia Napa is English, but in Russian bars and hotels you can often find Russian-speaking staff.

What to see in Ayia Napa?

The blue Lagoon of Ayia Napa is one of the most beautiful bays on the island of Cyprus, and throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Lagoon - an excellent place for snorkeling: there live multi-colored miracle fish, for flocks which can be watched endlessly.

Also in the lagoon there are several beautiful semi-submerged caves that can be explored with a mask and without. The bay is surrounded by very picturesque rocky shores.

Cape Greco is an islet of pristine nature. Here you will find everything you need for lovers of pristine nature: panoramic sea views, the raging sea, the roar of waves crashing against the rocks, a national nature reserve with recreational areas and a picnic, and all kinds of outdoor activities( paragliding, biking, diving, horse riding andmany other things).

The bridge of lovers is a natural arch formed in a rock by the sea. At Cyprian newlyweds, a visit to the bridge on the day of the wedding is considered an indispensable condition and a guarantee of a happy family life.

Gradually, this habit was adopted by tourists, and now on the bridge you can often find romantic couples paying tribute to the local tradition. But even if eternal love does not happen, you will have a stunning beauty photo on the background of a stone arch and the sea.

The Monastery of Ayia Napa is an ancient monastery dedicated to the Holy Virgin Mary, which was built in the XIV century on the site where, according to legend, an icon of the Virgin was found that protected local residents from pirate raids.

During the construction of the monastery in the place of modern Ayia Napa, a dense relic forest grew( the name "aya-napa" itself is translated from Greek as "sacred forest").From those times on the territory of the monastery is still preserved a single tree - a huge centuries-old sycamore.

Currently, the monastery does not work, its territory is a historical museum, but next to the monastery is built a beautiful Orthodox church, where the service is in Greek.

Lighthouse in Ayia Napa is an old, still operating lighthouse on the coast of Ayia Napa. In the afternoon, near the lighthouse, you can not crawl on the beach from the number of tourists, and in the evening the beach and stones around the lighthouse are occupied by lovers couples, since the place here is very romantic and secluded.

Water World Water World is 18 attractions of different difficulty levels for all ages - from famously swirling hills to a small paddling pool.

For the lazy in the water park there is an artificial river, swimming pools and umbrellas with sunbeds. The water park is stylized for the Ancient Greek city, there are cafes and souvenir shops on the territory.

Pirate caves are located in the central part of Ayia Napa Bay. There is a legend that medieval pirates hid their captives here, looted gold and provisions.

Today in the bay you can ride on a real pirate ship "Black Pearl", which is stylized as Jack Sparrow.

Port of Ayia Napa is the place where you can book a boat trip on a small boat, buy the freshest seafood, and prepare them here.

Fans of fishing can negotiate with local fishermen about joint fishing. The surrounding quarters and streets are very picturesque and simply dotted with small cozy taverns and family restaurants.

Holidays in Larnaca

Larnaca is a fairly large city by the standards of Cyprus. It is located in the center of the resort area of Cyprus, hence it is equally convenient to travel anywhere in the island.

This is one of the most ancient cities in Cyprus, therefore in Larnaca you are waited not only by magnificent beaches: there are as many as six historical museums, archaeological excavations are conducted right in the center of the city, on the quay often there are performances and concerts of live music.

What to see in Larnaca?

The monastery of Stavrovouni is an ancient Orthodox monastery, which is an important object of worship among the pilgrims of Christians around the world: there is a part of the cross on which Christ was crucified, as well as one of the nails to which the body of Jesus was nailed.

Also in the monastery is an ancient and very revered among the connoisseurs icon of the Mother of God.
The monastery is active to this day, only men can visit it, women are strictly forbidden entry.

Kamdes Aqueduct is a unique historical structure built during the reign of Ottoman Turks to supply Larnaca with water from their purest highland springs. The aqueduct operated until the 1930s, until a modern water supply system was introduced in the city.

Kamares Aqueduct, Larnaca, Cyprus

The village of Lefkara is an ancient Christian village in the vicinity of Larnaca, whose history dates back to ancient times. In the 15th century, when the island of Cyprus was owned by Venetian rulers, local residents adopted from the Venetian masters the art of the famous weaving of lace.

Over time, lace makers of Lefkara have developed their own style, which is famous and appreciated all over the world. Local handmade laces are expensive, but they are worth it.

Antique Kition is an ancient city on the site of modern Larnaca, founded by the Phoenicians. The city had an important trade and strategic significance, throughout history, most of the ancient and medieval states and republics tried to open their representative offices here.
Kition was one of the most important centers of spread of Christianity in the Mediterranean, as well as the birthplace of the philosophical teachings of the Stoics.

The Church of St. Lazarus is an Orthodox church built in the 9th-10th centuries on the site where St. Lazar's tomb once was. According to legend, Lazarus left Judea after his miraculous resurrection, dedicated the rest of his life to Christian teaching, settled in Cyprus in the city of Kition, where he served as bishop for more than 30 years.

It is noteworthy that such a version is widespread only among Christians, Catholics also believe that St. Lazarus lived and died in France, where his grave also exists.

Fort Larnaca is a Turkish fortress of the XVII century, one of the main sights of the city. After the First World War, during the reign of the British, the fortress was used for a long time as a prison and the place of execution of convicts. Currently in the fortress is a museum of the Middle Ages and a theatrical playground in the open air.

Salt Lake Aliki Larnacas - a favorite place for outdoor recreation among Cypriots and tourists, as well as the habitat of pink flamingos. The green zone around the lake is equipped with picnic areas and convenient access roads.

In the summer at the peak of the heat the lake dries up and turns into a desert covered with a white crust of salt. In late autumn and winter, with the beginning of the rainy season, the lake is filled with water, and flamingo flies arrive here for the winter.

The Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque is an important historical object in the Muslim culture. The mosque is built on the shore of a salt lake in honor of Umm Haram, the closest relative of the Prophet Muhammad at the place where she died.
At the moment the mosque is not operational, on its territory a museum is opened.

Rest in Limassol

Limassol is a large port and a fairly developed trade center, the second largest and most important city in Cyprus. As a tourist destination, Limassol began to develop relatively late.

Now in the city there is an active development of new residential quarters, apartments in which are sold and rented to foreign tourists( strangely enough, among buyers most of the Chinese, in second place Russians).

Limassol is divided into two parts: the old town and the tourist zone( the locals call it "tourist").

What to see in Limassol?

The fortress of Limassol is an old fortification built during Byzantium. Later the fortress was rebuilt many times. In the XII century in the fortress was arranged the wedding of Richard the Lionheart with the beautiful Berengaria of Navarre.

For its history the fortress served as a defensive structure, a garrison village, a prison and a command post. Today in the fortress there is a museum of the Middle Ages, telling about the life and way of life of the Cypriots from late Christians to the Enlightenment.

The Colossi Castle was built at the beginning of the 13th century and served as a refuge for the Templars for a while, then passed to the Knights Hospitallers of the Order of the Johannites. In the castle was the residence of the head of the Hospitallers, which was called "la grande commando."

From the name of the castle went the name of the area "Commandaria", as well as the name of the company's Cypriot wine, which began to be produced here during the time of the Knights-Crusaders.

Kurion is an ancient city in the vicinity of Limassol, known since the days of the Trojan War on the works of Herodotus. In some places the city has been preserved in quite good condition, for viewing there are many antique frescoes, the temple of Apollo of Hilat, an amphitheater, antique baths and early Christian buildings.

The city is located some distance from Limassol, but regular buses run here regularly, and there are several places for rest, parking, toilets, there are food machines and taverns on the territory.

The Old Town of Limassol is an amazing mixture of European medieval and eastern buildings dating from the time of the Ottoman minarets. Once upon a time here lived the Orthodox Greeks and Muslim Turks, but after the occupation of the northern territories of Cyprus, the Turks of Limassol were forced to leave their homes because of inter-ethnic conflicts, so many houses in the old city have been empty since that time.

St. Andrew's street( Agios Andreas) is the most popular street among tourists in the old part of Limassol. The street with a rare exception is closed to motor transport and is a cozy pedestrian zone with many shops, souvenir shops and cafes. Here, local artists and artisans sell their unique products.

Water Park Fasouri Watermania Water Park is a huge water entertainment complex in Limassol. The park is decorated in Polynesian style. In addition to the actual attractions, there is a spa and a tattoo parlor, a souvenir shop and a pedicure room where massage is done solely by fish. On the territory of the park are equipped with storage rooms, toilet rooms and locker rooms, cafes and vending machines with food.

Rest in Paphos

Paphos is a resort town in the south-west of Cyprus, which is oriented towards the adult public rather than families with children. The coast line of Paphos is cut with stony coves, the beaches here are mostly pebbly, sometimes the size of the pebble resembles cobblestones of medium size.

In general, the sea here will please only adults. Most hotels are also not designed for children - no children's animation, no playgrounds with swings you will not find them. But in terms of parks and entertainment Paphos will surpass any other resort in Cyprus.

What to see in Paphos?

Paphos Archaeological Park is an UNESCO World Heritage Site, an ancient city where you can see the houses of ancient Greek demigod heroes Theseus, Orpheus, Aeon and Dionysus( the buildings are named because of the beautifully preserved antique mosaic panels depicting different scenes with the participation of these heroes, in fact, mythical heroes here, of course, did not live).

Also in the archaeological museum of Paphos you can see the buildings of other historical epochs - Roman, Ottoman, early Christian, and the times of the conquest of Cyprus by the Franks.

Royal tombs is an ancient and early Christian cemetery built as a city from numerous tombs. Some tombs look like ordinary niches in the wall, some of them are whole freestanding buildings with frescoes, mosaic walls, separate courtyards and colonnades.

Aphrodite's Cove and Aphrodite's Stone .It is believed that the Greek goddess of love, beauty and eternal life was born in Cyprus, precisely in this bay. The stone of Aphrodite is located right in the sea near the shore, and strictly speaking it's not even a stone, but a small rock.

There is a popular belief: if you want to prolong your youth, beauty and love, you need to swim three times around the stone clockwise;if the beauty or youth has already left you, swim counter-clockwise, and then everything that is lost will return to you again. It is important to know that in this place there are quite strong waves, so some swim ends with trauma, be careful.

St. Paul's Column and Aya Kyriaki .According to legend, the column of St. Paul is a pillar, in which St. Paul would be punished with lashes for arriving to preach Christianity to Cyprus. The church of Ayia Kyriaki is located next to the column of Paul, its second name is Panagia Chrysopolitissa. The first building of the church dates back to the VI century.

Pafos Castle is a fortress fortress built during Byzantium. The very first building was destroyed during the earthquake. In the time of the Crusaders the fortress was restored.

For some time, the fort was owned by the Venetians, who deliberately destroyed the fortress during the Turkish siege. The fortress acquired its final form during the time of the Ottoman Empire.

The monastery of St. Neophytos is built on the site where in the era of early Christianity lived in a cave Cypriot recluse Neophytos. The complex of the monastery includes residential buildings, a museum of Christianity, monastic farm buildings and a church.

Aquapark "Aphrodite Water Park" Paphos Aphrodite Water Park is considered one of the best water parks in Europe. On the vast territory is the largest number of water activities in Cyprus. The park is equipped with everything necessary to spend the whole day here. If you book tickets on the official site of the water park, the visit will cost you less than buying through representatives or sales offices.

Rest in Protaras

Protaras is a traditionally family resort with clean sandy beaches, gently sloping sea entrance, quiet, measured life and comfortable family hotels. It is a small village that used to be a suburb of Famagusta, a popular resort in Cyprus in the 1960s. However, after North Cyprus occupied the Turkish Republic and Famagusta was in the occupied territory, Protaras began to develop as an independent resort.

What to see in Protaras?

Protaras Oceanarium is the largest aquarium in Cyprus. In addition to underwater inhabitants in the aquarium, you can see penguins, alligators and other reptiles, as well as monkeys, exotic birds and raccoons. The oceanarium is open all days of the week, except Monday, from 10 to 18 hours. The cost of a ticket for group visits is lower than individually. More information can be found here.

The Church of the Prophet Elijah in Protaras is a small stone church in Byzantine style on the top of a hill. The church is open for visits at any time, but on Sunday there are Sunday services, so the entrance can be limited. Before the church grows a tree, hung with rags: according to local belief, if you tie a ribbon or a piece of cloth to this tree, the strongest will come true.

Fig-tri Bay Bay( Fig Tree Bay) is the most popular beach holiday destination for Protaras tourists. By nature, here are ideal conditions: fine clean sand, a flat flat bottom and the absence of even a hint of waves in any weather, as the bay is protected by natural islet-breakwaters. The name of the bay was received in honor of the old fig tree, which when grown here on the shore, but to the present time has not survived.

Singing fountains of Protaras .On the scale of the show inferior to the famous singing fountains in Dubai or Barcelona. But in Protaras there is a zest: a local show consists not only of water, but also of fire, which adds to it spectacularity and uniqueness.

There is one more difference from the UAE and Spain: in Protaras for the visit the show will have to pay, and a tidy sum. But enjoy the show you will be in comfortable conditions, sitting at the table. While the show is on, you can order dinner.

The village of Liopetri is a small village in the vicinity of Protaras, whose inhabitants are famous for their art in making various handmade crafts. In addition to the craftsmen in Liopetri, there are stunningly beautiful landscapes reminiscent of the Norwegian fjords, along the coast there are cruising pleasure boats, any of which can be rented. Still here are the best seafood and fish taverns on the whole coast.

The Historic Museum of Protaras is one of the main museums of the island. The exposition of the museum is interesting because it presents not only traditional archaeological treasures and antique finds for Cyprus.

The museum has a unique collection of household items of the XIX century: children's toys, dishes, transportation and much more. It is this collection that sets the historical museum of Protaras on the background of the others and makes it particularly interesting.

Transport, taxi in Cyprus

The transport connection in Cyprus is represented only by buses. Because of the small size of the island, the railway is absent here as unnecessary, and from air transport there are only light-engine recreational crafts on which tourists roll.

Intercity bus routes in Cyprus work quite in a peculiar way: for example, on many lines buses do not work on Sunday, and on weekdays they finish work at 6 pm. Even if on some route there is a message, the interval of movement can be an hour or more.

The city bus network is only in the largest cities of the island: Paphos, Limassol, Larnaca, Nicosia. The schedule of city buses is similar to long-distance buses. In the countryside buses do go between villages once or twice a day, on Sundays, of course, there is no traffic. So the bus can not be called the most convenient means of transportation in Cyprus.

A good alternative to a bus can be considered a fixed-route taxi. They are also divided into intercity and intraurban. Payment in them is slightly higher than in buses, but they often go and work on weekends.

To use the service of a fixed-route taxi, you need to book your seat by phone. As an additional service, the dispatcher will ask you where to pick you up and where to land - the minibus driver does not have a clear route, so he picks up and disembarks passengers wherever they like. To see the prices, possible options for travel and phones for calling taxis in Cyprus, click here.

There is also a regular taxi, which can be called by phone or stopped right on the street. All cars are equipped with counters, the night rate is more expensive than the day rate.

An additional fee is charged for transportation of animals, additional passengers( the standard price includes a maximum of 4 people) and excess baggage.

Rent a car in Cyprus is not a problem, here are the standard rules( you are more than 23-25 years old, you have an international driving license and a plastic card for reservation of the sum insured), although in small towns the owners of rental offices close their eyeson some formalities and can simplify the rules of leasing.

The main difficulty of traveling on a rented car in Cyprus is the left-hand traffic. With the unaccustomed in some situations on the road( overtaking, turn, and the like) you can get lost.

Local drivers do not always comply with the SDA, which sometimes even more tourists enter into a stupor. The rooms on the rented car are painted red, so local drivers and traffic police immediately see that driving a tourist and treating small mistakes of the guests is very tolerable.

But in general, the road network in Cyprus is developed well, there are no problems with parking and refueling, and road signs are quite understandable and easily legible. To reserve a car for rent, as well as to learn the basic rules of traffic rules, you can click here.

Money, shopping and food at Cyprus Resorts

Food in Cyprus

Fruits and vegetables are better to buy in markets than in stores - the price will be much cheaper, and the choice is greater
In supermarkets and grocery stores, you can buy long-lasting productsstorage in vacuum packaging, as well as various cuts. If you want to save on food, you can easily arrange lunch or take them with you to the beach

From the catering establishments the most inexpensive - fast food restaurants and food courts in large shopping centers
In taverns and traditional cafes, the price tag starts from15-17 euros per person. Important: in such institutions are very large portions, so you can safely order one dish for two, alone, these doses simply can not be overpowered.
Often as a compliment for the order the institution gives the client a dessert or a glass of house wine, or an addition to the garnish. You can check with the waiter what kind of bonus you are relying on not to order extra and not pay for what you will already be given

The hotel usually has a somewhat monotonous food and is tasted like an average European: neutral dishesin neutral. If you want to try all the splendor of this Greek cuisine, be sure to go to the street cafes and restaurants of
. In cafes and restaurants of Cyprus you can order complex lunches - an analog of our business lunch - for a very reasonable price. Also there are "happy hours" for lunches and dinners, details can be clarified on the spot in a particular institution.
Tipping in Cyprus is considered a good form and on average is 5-7% of the check amount. But you can limit yourself to a few coins

Shopping in Cyprus

Cyprus has all the most popular European brands: Bershka, Marks & Spencer Topman, Stradivarius, Guess, GAP, Benetton, Zara and others. Most stores are concentrated in big cities and large shopping centers
Most stores work only until 18-19 hours and close for a very long lunch break( approximately from 13 to 15-16 hours), on Wednesdays and Saturdays shops close a couple of hours earlier,and on Sunday and do not work

Traditional sales for all Europe happen twice a year, in February and July. Often, stores make special discounts before Christmas and Easter. There are also special promotions during the year, when substantial discounts are offered for a certain category of goods.
There are a lot of shops in Limassol, there is also an interesting flea market with unique antique pieces.
In Larnaca, Paphos and Ayia Napa there are 1-2 largeshopping center, where you can go, if your plans for shopping are reduced to buying one or two things in passing. For purposeful shopping, it's best to go to Limassol

In addition to clothing in Cyprus, you can buy excellent leather shoes, a bag or purse( often sewn to order, on average, the manufacturing takes a week).
Cyprus is famous for jewelry made of gold andsilver handmade. You can be sure that the jewelry purchased in Cyprus exists in a single copy of the
. Also, the products of lace makers from the village of Lefkara
are considered to be unique and very qualitative. You can bring local ceramics, sweets, olive oil, handmade icons, wicker handicrafts and mini-copies from souvenirs.antique sculptures

Money in Cyprus

The currency of the Greek part of the island is the euro. You can exchange currency in banks, special exchange offices or at the hotel. For currency exchange institutions traditionally take a small percentage, the lowest - in banks.

But it's still cheaper to exchange currency in Russia.

Plastic cards are accepted for payment in any institution, the most popular cards are VISA and MasterCard. If you pay by card, you may be asked to show your passport or a copy of it. ATMs are also not a problem

On average, it is estimated that the daily cost of vacation in Cyprus costs 45-60 euros per day per person.
The exact amount depends on what services you have already ordered and paid for as part of the tour, and how much you have on optional entertainment

The Turkish part of Cyprus is a holiday

Since the Turkish part of Cyprus is recognized only by Turkey itself, andThe rest of the world perceive it as temporarily occupied territory.

To get to North Cyprus is possible only from the territory of Turkey, no airline of the world does flights to this zone.

It is also problematic to enter the Greek part of the island, besides, Greek Cypriots may not let you go back to their territory after visiting the Turkish enclave.
All of the above features lead to the fact that vacation in the resorts of Northern Cyprus is reduced to just a few cases.

However, North Cyprus is a great place for recreation, which, due to the political situation, is completely undeservedly avoided by tourists.
At North Cyprus there are comfortable hotels of different levels, excellent beaches and entertainment facilities. Prices here are lower than on the Greek part of the island, in the course of not only the euro, but the Turkish lira and US dollars.

A visa is not required for visiting the Turkish part, since entry to Turkey for Russians and residents of the CIS countries is free. In short, the Turkish part of Cyprus is ready to offer you everything the same as the Greek, and even a little more. More details about the rest in North Cyprus can be found in the video.